School Resource Officer Program

In 2006, the Southern Lehigh School District welcomed a School Resource Officer (SRO) into the halls of the district in an effort to provide additional safety and security support to our students, staff, and surrounding community. The School Resource Officer Program continues today as a result of the meaningful partnership that exists between the Southern Lehigh School District and the Upper Saucon Township Police Department. This collaboration has yielded a meaningful relationship between the organizations as they provide services and support to students across the district. The goals of a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program are; 

• To focus on the development of a meaningful rapport between the students, parents, school personnel, and community members and the School Resource Officer 
• To create and maintain an orderly, safe, and secure educational environment for the benefit of the students, parents, school personnel, and community members
• To ensure open lines of communication between the students, parents, school personnel, and community members and the School Resource Officer 
• To provide students with a positive role model and resource for identifying and counseling students 
• To take appropriate and consistent steps with a law enforcement officer’s duty while working to divert youth from consequences within the juvenile justice system toward restorative justice practices when available 
• To bridge the gap between law enforcement officers and students to increase positive attitudes toward community policing and law enforcement 

The School Resource Officer (SRO) Program continues to provide the Southern Lehigh School District with an opportunity to focus toward the creation of relationships that support the needs of the community across the district. Through the continued growth and evolution of the School Resource Officer Program, the Southern Lehigh School District is able to progress proactive community programming between the Upper Saucon Township Police Department and the Southern Lehigh School District. The School Resource Officer has many responsibilities. In the Southern Lehigh School District, the SRO is an educational resource in the classroom presenting classroom presentations about a variety of topics. The SRO is a law related related resource who can consult students, parents, and teachers on individual situations. The SRO may also work alongside the school’s counselors to provide information on community services. Finally, as a law enforcement officer, the SRO investigates crimes and makes arrests, when state laws are violated. Fundamentally, School Resource Officers have become a valuable part of the Southern Lehigh School District and act as an important link between students and the overall school district community.